Friday, August 24, 2018

The Notorious Bettie Page (2005): Gretchen Mol


     Although an HBO movie, The Notorious Bettie Page (2005) has the grittiness and feel of an independent film. The cinematography is superb, shot mostly in black and white with occasional color vignettes, it fits the subject and looks like a 1950s magazine. Overall the acting is strong and it is a fine effort and suitable tribute to Bettie Page, a true pin-up icon.
     The story traces Bettie Page's (Gretchen Mol) life from adolescence up to her "redemption" and retreat from the spotlight, but jumps around in a non-linear effort to make the storyline more interesting. After a youth, troubled with men who used her for her good looks, Bettie Page moves to New York City and decides to put her good looks to use as a model... 

The Notorious Bettie Page. 2005: Gretchen Mol

     She eventually hooks up with camera club people, which in turn leads her to a Hollywood head-shot business that sells bondage photos on the side... 

The Notorious Bettie Page. 2005: Gretchen Mol

     Naive to the trend, Bettie poses for the photos, but it eventually leads to her involvement in a Government investigation... 

The Notorious Bettie Page. 2005: Gretchen Mol

     A vacation to Miami leads Bettie to Bunny Yeager, a fresh photographer with which she has an instant bond, and they take many photos together... 

The Notorious Bettie Page. 2005: Gretchen Mol

     Magazine covers and postcards abound...

The Notorious Bettie Page. 2005: Gretchen Mol
The Notorious Bettie Page. 2005: Gretchen Mol

     Bettie Page's life seems to be great, she is naughty but having fun with it. But the ever-pulling question of religion troubles her... and she seeks a new path...

Comparison: The real Bettie Page and Grethchen Mol playing her

The Notorious Bettie Page. 2005: Gretchen Mol

The Notorious Bettie Page. 2005: Gretchen Mol

The Notorious Bettie Page. 2005: Gretchen Mol

The Notorious Bettie Page. 2005: Gretchen Mol